S-1571.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5981

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

 

By Senator Heavey

 

Read first time 02/18/1999.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration to 0.05.


    AN ACT Relating to legal blood alcohol concentrations; amending RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.504, 46.61.506, 88.12.025, 90.56.540, and 90.56.550; reenacting and amending RCW 46.20.308, 46.20.3101, and 46.61.5055; and prescribing penalties.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.20.308 and 1998 c 213 s 1, 1998 c 209 s 1, 1998 c 207 s 7, and 1998 c 41 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

    (1) Any person who operates a motor vehicle within this state is deemed to have given consent, subject to the provisions of RCW 46.61.506, to a test or tests of his or her breath or blood for the purpose of determining the alcohol concentration or presence of any drug in his or her breath or blood if arrested for any offense where, at the time of the arrest, the arresting officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or was in violation of RCW 46.61.503.

    (2) The test or tests of breath shall be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or the person to have been driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having alcohol in a concentration in violation of RCW 46.61.503 in his or her system and being under the age of twenty-one.  However, in those instances where the person is incapable due to physical injury, physical incapacity, or other physical limitation, of providing a breath sample or where the person is being treated in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, emergency medical vehicle, ambulance, or other similar facility in which a breath testing instrument is not present or where the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is under the influence of a drug, a blood test shall be administered by a qualified person as provided in RCW 46.61.506(4).  The officer shall inform the person of his or her right to refuse the breath or blood test, and of his or her right to have additional tests administered by any qualified person of his or her choosing as provided in RCW 46.61.506.  The officer shall warn the driver that:

    (a) His or her license, permit, or privilege to drive will be revoked or denied if he or she refuses to submit to the test;

    (b) His or her license, permit, or privilege to drive will be suspended, revoked, or denied if the test is administered and the test indicates the alcohol concentration of the person's breath or blood is ((0.08)) 0.05 or more, in the case of a person age twenty-one or over, or in violation of RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.503, or 46.61.504 in the case of a person under age twenty-one; and

    (c) His or her refusal to take the test may be used in a criminal trial.

    (3) Except as provided in this section, the test administered shall be of the breath only.  If an individual is unconscious or is under arrest for the crime of vehicular homicide as provided in RCW 46.61.520 or vehicular assault as provided in RCW 46.61.522, or if an individual is under arrest for the crime of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs as provided in RCW 46.61.502, which arrest results from an accident in which there has been serious bodily injury to another person, a breath or blood test may be administered without the consent of the individual so arrested.

    (4) Any person who is dead, unconscious, or who is otherwise in a condition rendering him or her incapable of refusal, shall be deemed not to have withdrawn the consent provided by subsection (1) of this section and the test or tests may be administered, subject to the provisions of RCW 46.61.506, and the person shall be deemed to have received the warnings required under subsection (2) of this section.

    (5) If, following his or her arrest and receipt of warnings under subsection (2) of this section, the person arrested refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer to submit to a test or tests of his or her breath or blood, no test shall be given except as authorized under subsection (3) or (4) of this section.

    (6) If, after arrest and after the other applicable conditions and requirements of this section have been satisfied, a test or tests of the person's blood or breath is administered and the test results indicate that the alcohol concentration of the person's breath or blood is ((0.08)) 0.05 or more if the person is age twenty-one or over, or is in violation of RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.503, or 46.61.504 if the person is under the age of twenty-one, or the person refuses to submit to a test, the arresting officer or other law enforcement officer at whose direction any test has been given, or the department, where applicable, if the arrest results in a test of the person's blood, shall:

    (a) Serve notice in writing on the person on behalf of the department of its intention to suspend, revoke, or deny the person's license, permit, or privilege to drive as required by subsection (7) of this section;

    (b) Serve notice in writing on the person on behalf of the department of his or her right to a hearing, specifying the steps he or she must take to obtain a hearing as provided by subsection (8) of this section;

    (c) Mark the person's Washington state driver's license or permit to drive, if any, in a manner authorized by the department;

    (d) Serve notice in writing that the marked license or permit, if any, is a temporary license that is valid for sixty days from the date of arrest or from the date notice has been given in the event notice is given by the department following a blood test, or until the suspension, revocation, or denial of the person's license, permit, or privilege to drive is sustained at a hearing pursuant to subsection (8) of this section, whichever occurs first.  No temporary license is valid to any greater degree than the license or permit that it replaces; and

    (e) Immediately notify the department of the arrest and transmit to the department within seventy-two hours, except as delayed as the result of a blood test, a sworn report or report under a declaration authorized by RCW 9A.72.085 that states:

    (i) That the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the arrested person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or both, or was under the age of twenty-one years and had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in violation of RCW 46.61.503;

    (ii) That after receipt of the warnings required by subsection (2) of this section the person refused to submit to a test of his or her blood or breath, or a test was administered and the results indicated that the alcohol concentration of the person's breath or blood was ((0.08)) 0.05 or more if the person is age twenty-one or over, or was in violation of RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.503, or 46.61.504 if the person is under the age of twenty-one; and

    (iii) Any other information that the director may require by rule.

    (7) The department of licensing, upon the receipt of a sworn report or report under a declaration authorized by RCW 9A.72.085 under subsection (6)(e) of this section, shall suspend, revoke, or deny the person's license, permit, or privilege to drive or any nonresident operating privilege, as provided in RCW 46.20.3101, such suspension, revocation, or denial to be effective beginning sixty days from the date of arrest or from the date notice has been given in the event notice is given by the department following a blood test, or when sustained at a hearing pursuant to subsection (8) of this section, whichever occurs first.

    (8) A person receiving notification under subsection (6)(b) of this section may, within thirty days after the notice has been given, request in writing a formal hearing before the department.  The person shall pay a fee of one hundred dollars as part of the request.  If the request is mailed, it must be postmarked within thirty days after receipt of the notification.  Upon timely receipt of such a request for a formal hearing, including receipt of the required one hundred dollar fee, the department shall afford the person an opportunity for a hearing.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the hearing is subject to and shall be scheduled and conducted in accordance with RCW 46.20.329 and 46.20.332.  The hearing shall be conducted in the county of the arrest, except that all or part of the hearing may, at the discretion of the department, be conducted by telephone or other electronic means.  The hearing shall be held within sixty days following the arrest or following the date notice has been given in the event notice is given by the department following a blood test, unless otherwise agreed to by the department and the person, in which case the action by the department shall be stayed, and any valid temporary license marked under subsection (6)(c) of this section extended, if the person is otherwise eligible for licensing.  For the purposes of this section, the scope of the hearing shall cover the issues of whether a law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while having alcohol in his or her system in a concentration in violation of RCW 46.61.503 and was under the age of twenty-one, whether the person was placed under arrest, and (a) whether the person refused to submit to the test or tests upon request of the officer after having been informed that such refusal would result in the revocation of the person's license, permit, or privilege to drive, or (b) if a test or tests were administered, whether the applicable requirements of this section were satisfied before the administration of the test or tests, whether the person submitted to the test or tests, or whether a test was administered without express consent as permitted under this section, and whether the test or tests indicated that the alcohol concentration of the person's breath or blood was ((0.08)) 0.05 or more if the person was age twenty-one or over at the time of the arrest, or was in violation of RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.503, or 46.61.504 if the person was under the age of twenty-one at the time of the arrest.  The sworn report or report under a declaration authorized by RCW 9A.72.085 submitted by a law enforcement officer is prima facie evidence that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or both, or the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while having alcohol in his or her system in a concentration in violation of RCW 46.61.503 and was under the age of twenty-one and that the officer complied with the requirements of this section.

    A hearing officer shall conduct the hearing, may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, and shall administer oaths to witnesses.  The hearing officer shall not issue a subpoena for the attendance of a witness at the request of the person unless the request is accompanied by the fee required by RCW 5.56.010 for a witness in district court.  The sworn report or report under a declaration authorized by RCW 9A.72.085 of the law enforcement officer and any other evidence accompanying the report shall be admissible without further evidentiary foundation and the certifications authorized by the criminal rules for courts of limited jurisdiction shall be admissible without further evidentiary foundation.  The person may be represented by counsel, may question witnesses, may present evidence, and may testify.  The department shall order that the suspension, revocation, or denial either be rescinded or sustained.

    (9) If the suspension, revocation, or denial is sustained after such a hearing, the person whose license, privilege, or permit is suspended, revoked, or denied has the right to file a petition in the superior court of the county of arrest to review the final order of revocation by the department in the same manner as an appeal from a decision of a court of limited jurisdiction.  Notice of appeal must be filed within thirty days after the date the final order is served or the right to appeal is waived.  Notwithstanding RCW 46.20.334, RALJ 1.1, or other statutes or rules referencing de novo review, the appeal shall be limited to a review of the record of the administrative hearing.  The appellant must pay the costs associated with obtaining the record of the hearing before the hearing officer.  The filing of the appeal does not stay the effective date of the suspension, revocation, or denial.  A petition filed under this subsection must include the petitioner's grounds for requesting review.  Upon granting petitioner's request for review, the court shall review the department's final order of suspension, revocation, or denial as expeditiously as possible.  The review must be limited to a determination of whether the department has committed any errors of law.  The superior court shall accept those factual determinations supported by substantial evidence in the record:  (a) That were expressly made by the department; or (b) that may reasonably be inferred from the final order of the department.  The superior court may reverse, affirm, or modify the decision of the department or remand the case back to the department for further proceedings.  The decision of the superior court must be in writing and filed in the clerk's office with the other papers in the case.  The court shall state the reasons for the decision.  If judicial relief is sought for a stay or other temporary remedy from the department's action, the court shall not grant such relief unless the court finds that the appellant is likely to prevail in the appeal and that without a stay the appellant will suffer irreparable injury.  If the court stays the suspension, revocation, or denial it may impose conditions on such stay.

    (10) If a person whose driver's license, permit, or privilege to drive has been or will be suspended, revoked, or denied under subsection (7) of this section, other than as a result of a breath or blood test refusal, and who has not committed an offense within the last five years for which he or she was granted a deferred prosecution under chapter 10.05 RCW, petitions a court for a deferred prosecution on criminal charges arising out of the arrest for which action has been or will be taken under subsection (7) of this section, the court may direct the department to stay any actual or proposed suspension, revocation, or denial for at least forty-five days but not more than ninety days.  If the court stays the suspension, revocation, or denial, it may impose conditions on such stay.  If the person is otherwise eligible for licensing, the department shall issue a temporary license, or extend any valid temporary license marked under subsection (6) of this section, for the period of the stay.  If a deferred prosecution treatment plan is not recommended in the report made under RCW 10.05.050, or if treatment is rejected by the court, or if the person declines to accept an offered treatment plan, or if the person violates any condition imposed by the court, then the court shall immediately direct the department to cancel the stay and any temporary marked license or extension of a temporary license issued under this subsection.

    A suspension, revocation, or denial imposed under this section, other than as a result of a breath or blood test refusal, shall be stayed if the person is accepted for deferred prosecution as provided in chapter 10.05 RCW for the incident upon which the suspension, revocation, or denial is based.  If the deferred prosecution is terminated, the stay shall be lifted and the suspension, revocation, or denial reinstated.  If the deferred prosecution is completed, the stay shall be lifted and the suspension, revocation, or denial canceled.

    (11) When it has been finally determined under the procedures of this section that a nonresident's privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state has been suspended, revoked, or denied, the department shall give information in writing of the action taken to the motor vehicle administrator of the state of the person's residence and of any state in which he or she has a license.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 46.20.3101 and 1998 c 213 s 2, 1998 c 209 s 2, and 1998 c 207 s 8 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

    Pursuant to RCW 46.20.308, the department shall suspend, revoke, or deny the arrested person's license, permit, or privilege to drive as follows:

    (1) In the case of a person who has refused a test or tests:

    (a) For a first refusal within seven years, where there has not been a previous incident within seven years that resulted in administrative action under this section, revocation or denial for one year;

    (b) For a second or subsequent refusal within seven years, or for a first refusal where there has been one or more previous incidents within seven years that have resulted in administrative action under this section, revocation or denial for two years or until the person reaches age twenty-one, whichever is longer.  A revocation imposed under this subsection (1)(b) shall run consecutively to the period of any suspension, revocation, or denial imposed pursuant to a criminal conviction arising out of the same incident.

    (2) In the case of an incident where a person has submitted to or been administered a test or tests indicating that the alcohol concentration of the person's breath or blood was ((0.08)) 0.05 or more:

    (a) For a first incident within seven years, where there has not been a previous incident within seven years that resulted in administrative action under this section, suspension for ninety days;

    (b) For a second or subsequent incident within seven years, revocation or denial for two years.

    (3) In the case of an incident where a person under age twenty-one has submitted to or been administered a test or tests indicating that the alcohol concentration of the person's breath or blood was in violation of RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.503, or 46.61.504:

    (a) For a first incident within seven years, suspension or denial for ninety days;

    (b) For a second or subsequent incident within seven years, revocation or denial for one year or until the person reaches age twenty-one, whichever is longer.

 

    Sec. 3.  RCW 46.61.502 and 1998 c 213 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state:

    (a) And the person has, within two hours after driving, an alcohol concentration of ((0.08)) 0.05 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or

    (b) While the person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or

    (c) While the person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

    (2) The fact that a person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use a drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against a charge of violating this section.

    (3) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after the time of driving and before the administration of an analysis of the person's breath or blood to cause the defendant's alcohol concentration to be ((0.08)) 0.05 or more within two hours after driving.  The court shall not admit evidence of this defense unless the defendant notifies the prosecution prior to the omnibus or pretrial hearing in the case of the defendant's intent to assert the affirmative defense.

    (4) Analyses of blood or breath samples obtained more than two hours after the alleged driving may be used as evidence that within two hours of the alleged driving, a person had an alcohol concentration of ((0.08)) 0.05 or more in violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section, and in any case in which the analysis shows an alcohol concentration above 0.00 may be used as evidence that a person was under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug in violation of subsection (1)(b) or (c) of this section.

    (5) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

 

    Sec. 4.  RCW 46.61.504 and 1998 c 213 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person is guilty of being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person has actual physical control of a vehicle within this state:

    (a) And the person has, within two hours after being in actual physical control of the vehicle, an alcohol concentration of ((0.08)) 0.05 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or

    (b) While the person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or

    (c) While the person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

    (2) The fact that a person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use a drug under the laws of this state does not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.  No person may be convicted under this section if, prior to being pursued by a law enforcement officer, the person has moved the vehicle safely off the roadway.

    (3) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after the time of being in actual physical control of the vehicle and before the administration of an analysis of the person's breath or blood to cause the defendant's alcohol concentration to be ((0.08)) 0.05 or more within two hours after being in such control.  The court shall not admit evidence of this defense unless the defendant notifies the prosecution prior to the omnibus or pretrial hearing in the case of the defendant's intent to assert the affirmative defense.

    (4) Analyses of blood or breath samples obtained more than two hours after the alleged being in actual physical control of a vehicle may be used as evidence that within two hours of the alleged being in such control, a person had an alcohol concentration of ((0.08)) 0.05 or more in violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section, and in any case in which the analysis shows an alcohol concentration above 0.00 may be used as evidence that a person was under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug in violation of subsection (1)(b) or (c) of this section.

    (5) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

 

    Sec. 5.  RCW 46.61.5055 and 1998 c 215 s 1, 1998 c 214 s 1, 1998 c 211 s 1, 1998 c 210 s 4, 1998 c 207 s 1, and 1998 c 206 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person who is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and who has no prior offense within seven years shall be punished as follows:

    (a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

    (i) By imprisonment for not less than one day nor more than one year.  Twenty-four consecutive hours of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.  Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based.  In lieu of the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment required under this subsection (1)(a)(i), the court may order not less than fifteen days of electronic home monitoring.  The offender shall pay the cost of electronic home monitoring.  The county or municipality in which the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost.  The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device to include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and the court may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring; and

    (ii) By a fine of not less than three hundred fifty dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.  Three hundred fifty dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; and

    (iii) By suspension of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of ninety days.  The period of license, permit, or privilege suspension may not be suspended.  The court shall notify the department of licensing of the conviction, and upon receiving notification of the conviction the department shall suspend the offender's license, permit, or privilege; or

    (b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

    (i) By imprisonment for not less than two days nor more than one year.  Two consecutive days of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.  Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based.  In lieu of the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment required under this subsection (1)(b)(i), the court may order not less than thirty days of electronic home monitoring.  The offender shall pay the cost of electronic home monitoring.  The county or municipality in which the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost.  The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device to include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and the court may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring; and

    (ii) By a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.  Five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; and

    (iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of one year.  The period of license, permit, or privilege suspension may not be suspended.  The court shall notify the department of licensing of the conviction, and upon receiving notification of the conviction the department shall suspend the offender's license, permit, or privilege; and

    (iv) By a court-ordered restriction under RCW 46.20.720.

    (2) A person who is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and who has one prior offense within seven years shall be punished as follows:

    (a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

    (i) By imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than one year and sixty days of electronic home monitoring.  The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring.  The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost.  The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring.  Thirty days of imprisonment and sixty days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.  Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and

    (ii) By a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.  Five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; and

    (iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of two years.  The period of license, permit, or privilege revocation may not be suspended.  The court shall notify the department of licensing of the conviction, and upon receiving notification of the conviction the department shall revoke the offender's license, permit, or privilege; and

    (iv) By a court-ordered restriction under RCW 46.20.720; or

    (b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

    (i) By imprisonment for not less than forty-five days nor more than one year and ninety days of electronic home monitoring.  The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring.  The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost.  The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring.  Forty-five days of imprisonment and ninety days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.  Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and

    (ii) By a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.  Seven hundred fifty dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; and

    (iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of nine hundred days.  The period of license, permit, or privilege revocation may not be suspended.  The court shall notify the department of licensing of the conviction, and upon receiving notification of the conviction the department shall revoke the offender's license, permit, or privilege; and

    (iv) By a court-ordered restriction under RCW 46.20.720.

    (3) A person who is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and who has two or more prior offenses within seven years shall be punished as follows:

    (a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

    (i) By imprisonment for not less than ninety days nor more than one year and one hundred twenty days of electronic home monitoring.  The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring.  The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost.  The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring.  Ninety days of imprisonment and one hundred twenty days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.  Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and

    (ii) By a fine of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.  One thousand dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; and

    (iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of three years.  The period of license, permit, or privilege revocation may not be suspended.  The court shall notify the department of licensing of the conviction, and upon receiving notification of the conviction the department shall revoke the offender's license, permit, or privilege; and

    (iv) By a court-ordered restriction under RCW 46.20.720; or

    (b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

    (i) By imprisonment for not less than one hundred twenty days nor more than one year and one hundred fifty days of electronic home monitoring.  The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring.  The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost.  The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring.  One hundred twenty days of imprisonment and one hundred fifty days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.  Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and

    (ii) By a fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.  One thousand five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; and

    (iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of four years.  The period of license, permit, or privilege revocation may not be suspended.  The court shall notify the department of licensing of the conviction, and upon receiving notification of the conviction the department shall revoke the offender's license, permit, or privilege; and

    (iv) By a court-ordered restriction under RCW 46.20.720.

    (4) In exercising its discretion in setting penalties within the limits allowed by this section, the court shall particularly consider the following:

    (a) Whether the person's driving at the time of the offense was responsible for injury or damage to another or another's property; and

    (b) Whether the person was driving or in physical control of a vehicle with one or more passengers at the time of the offense.

    (5) An offender punishable under this section is subject to the alcohol assessment and treatment provisions of RCW 46.61.5056.

    (6) After expiration of any period of suspension or revocation of the offender's license, permit, or privilege to drive required by this section, the department shall place the offender's driving privilege in probationary status pursuant to RCW 46.20.355.

    (7)(a) In addition to any nonsuspendable and nondeferrable jail sentence required by this section, whenever the court imposes less than one year in jail, the court shall also suspend but shall not defer a period of confinement for a period not exceeding five years.  The court shall impose conditions of probation that include:  (i) Not driving a motor vehicle within this state without a valid license to drive and proof of financial responsibility for the future; (ii) not driving a motor vehicle within this state while having an alcohol concentration of ((0.08)) 0.05 or more within two hours after driving; and (iii) not refusing to submit to a test of his or her breath or blood to determine alcohol concentration upon request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable grounds to believe the person was driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.  The court may impose conditions of probation that include nonrepetition, installation of an ignition interlock or other biological or technical device on the probationer's motor vehicle, alcohol or drug treatment, supervised probation, or other conditions that may be appropriate.  The sentence may be imposed in whole or in part upon violation of a condition of probation during the suspension period.

    (b) For each violation of mandatory conditions of probation under (a)(i) and (ii) or (a)(i) and (iii) of this subsection, the court shall order the convicted person to be confined for thirty days, which shall not be suspended or deferred.

    (c) For each incident involving a violation of a mandatory condition of probation imposed under this subsection, the license, permit, or privilege to drive of the person shall be suspended by the court for thirty days or, if such license, permit, or privilege to drive already is suspended, revoked, or denied at the time the finding of probation violation is made, the suspension, revocation, or denial then in effect shall be extended by thirty days.  The court shall notify the department of any suspension, revocation, or denial or any extension of a suspension, revocation, or denial imposed under this subsection.

    (8) For purposes of this section:

    (a) "Electronic home monitoring" shall not be considered confinement as defined in RCW 9.94A.030;

    (b) A "prior offense" means any of the following:

    (i) A conviction for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or an equivalent local ordinance;

    (ii) A conviction for a violation of RCW 46.61.504 or an equivalent local ordinance;

    (iii) A conviction for a violation of RCW 46.61.520 committed while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug;

    (iv) A conviction for a violation of RCW 46.61.522 committed while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug;

    (v) A conviction for a violation of RCW 46.61.5249, 46.61.500, or 9A.36.050 or an equivalent local ordinance, if the conviction is the result of a charge that was originally filed as a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, or an equivalent local ordinance, or of RCW 46.61.520 or 46.61.522;

    (vi) An out-of-state conviction for a violation that would have been a violation of (b)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of this subsection if committed in this state;

    (vii) A deferred prosecution under chapter 10.05 RCW granted in a prosecution for a violation of RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.504, or an equivalent local ordinance; or

    (viii) A deferred prosecution under chapter 10.05 RCW granted in a prosecution for a violation of RCW 46.61.5249, or an equivalent local ordinance, if the charge under which the deferred prosecution was granted was originally filed as a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, or an equivalent local ordinance, or of RCW 46.61.520 or 46.61.522; and

    (c) "Within seven years" means that the arrest for a prior offense occurred within seven years of the arrest for the current offense.

 

    Sec. 6.  RCW 46.61.506 and 1998 c 213 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person while driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, if the person's alcohol concentration is less than ((0.08)) 0.05, it is evidence that may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.

    (2) The breath analysis shall be based upon grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath.  The foregoing provisions of this section shall not be construed as limiting the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing upon the question whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.

    (3) Analysis of the person's blood or breath to be considered valid under the provisions of this section or RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 shall have been performed according to methods approved by the state toxicologist and by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the state toxicologist for this purpose.  The state toxicologist is directed to approve satisfactory techniques or methods, to supervise the examination of individuals to ascertain their qualifications and competence to conduct such analyses, and to issue permits which shall be subject to termination or revocation at the discretion of the state toxicologist.

    (4) When a blood test is administered under the provisions of RCW 46.20.308, the withdrawal of blood for the purpose of determining its alcoholic or drug content may be performed only by a physician, a registered nurse, or a qualified technician.  This limitation shall not apply to the taking of breath specimens.

    (5) The person tested may have a physician, or a qualified technician, chemist, registered nurse, or other qualified person of his or her own choosing administer one or more tests in addition to any administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer.  The failure or inability to obtain an additional test by a person shall not preclude the admission of evidence relating to the test or tests taken at the direction of a law enforcement officer.

    (6) Upon the request of the person who shall submit to a test or tests at the request of a law enforcement officer, full information concerning the test or tests shall be made available to him or her or his or her attorney.

 

    Sec. 7.  RCW 88.12.025 and 1998 c 213 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a reckless manner.

    (2) It shall be a violation for a person to operate a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.  A person is considered to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if:

    (a) The person has ((0.08)) 0.05 grams or more of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath, as shown by analysis of the person's breath made under RCW 46.61.506; or

    (b) The person has ((0.08)) 0.05 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood, as shown by analysis of the person's blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or

    (c) The person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or

    (d) The person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

    The fact that any person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use such drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.  A person cited under this subsection may upon request be given a breath test for breath alcohol or may request to have a blood sample taken for blood alcohol analysis.  An arresting officer shall administer field sobriety tests when circumstances permit.

    (3) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable as provided under RCW 9.92.030.  In addition, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution for any damages or injuries resulting from the offense.

 

    Sec. 8.  RCW 90.56.540 and 1991 c 200 s 605 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person is guilty of operating a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs if the person operates a covered vessel within this state while:

    (a) The person has ((0.06)) 0.05 grams or more of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath, as shown by analysis of the person's breath made under RCW ((88.16.230)) 90.56.550; or

    (b) The person has ((0.06)) 0.05 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood as shown by analysis of the person's blood made under RCW ((88.16.230)) 90.56.550; or

    (c) The person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or drugs; or

    (d) The person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or drugs.

    (2) The fact that any person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use such drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.

    (3) Operating a vessel while intoxicated is a class C felony under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

 

    Sec. 9.  RCW 90.56.550 and 1991 c 200 s 606 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by a person while operating a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, if the amount of alcohol in the person's blood or breath at the time alleged as shown by analysis of his blood or breath is less than ((0.06)) 0.05 percent by weight of alcohol in his blood or ((0.06)) 0.05 grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of the person's breath, it is evidence that may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

    (2) The breath analysis shall be based upon grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath.  The foregoing provisions of this section shall not be construed as limiting the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing upon the question whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.

    (3) Analysis of the person's blood or breath to be considered valid under this section shall have been performed according to methods approved by the state toxicologist and by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the state toxicologist for this purpose.  The state toxicologist shall approve satisfactory techniques or methods, to supervise the examination of individuals to ascertain their qualifications and competence to conduct such analyses, and to issue permits that are subject to termination or revocation at the discretion of the state toxicologist.

    (4) If a blood test is administered under this section, the withdrawal of blood for the purpose of determining its alcoholic content may be performed only by a physician, a registered nurse, or a qualified technician.  This limitation shall not apply to the taking of breath specimens.

    (5) The person tested may have a physician, or a qualified technician, chemist, registered nurse, or other qualified person of his or her own choosing administer one or more tests in addition to any administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer.  The failure or inability to obtain an additional test by a person shall not preclude the admission of evidence relating to the test or tests taken at the direction of a law enforcement officer.

    (6) Upon the request of the person who submits to a test or tests at the request of a law enforcement officer, full information concerning the test or tests shall be made available to the person or his or her attorney.

 


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